Concrete floor construction



Oct. 18, 1932. H. WELLS CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 14, 1930 Helvi FY2116, 1\Nn.*s-- LM Oct. 18, 1932. H. 1.. WELLS CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed March 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KW NR Hewitt Lmzzs,

Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCRETE FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Application filed March 14, 1930. Serial No. 435,846.

This invention relates to an improvement in concrete floor construction, and is a further adaptation of my invention as dis closed in application filed November 19,

1| 1929, bearing Serial No. 408,342, in the method of erecting and removing concrete forms.

This invention consists in arranging at the sides of structural steel beams, beam forms lo manufactured of steel sheets bent to shape and supported by stringers hung from the beams. These metal beam forms are preferably channel shaped with the sides adjacent the structural steel beams forming a wall against which is poured the concrete to em- .bed and thoroughly encase the beams including the bottom flanges making them adequately fireproof. The opposite sides of the metal forms are provided with flanges or shoulders aifording a support for wood joists spanning the space between the metal forms. fMounted on the suitably spaced joists are wood sheathing or metal .forms such as disclosed in my Patents Nos. 1,445,374 of February 15, 1923 and 1,533,960 of April 14, 1925, the upper surfaces of which lie practically flush with the upper surfaces or tops of the metal beam forms and onto which the floor slab may be poured.

When reinforced concrete beams are used the metal channel forms are arranged in spaced relation sothat the adjacent side walls of two forms will form the walls to mold the concrete beams while the opposite walls of each form has supporting means for the joists which support the wood sheathing.

The invention consists of certain other novel features of construction and combination of parts which will be more fully set forth and described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a typical floor slab showing the supporting girders;

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view in illustrating the arrangement of the metal forms and sheathing between the steel beams;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken at right angles to the showing spaced apart structural illustrated in Figure 1 of a reinforced concrete floor construction;

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the preferred metal beam forms in overlapped relation; and

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail perspective views of slightly modified metal beam forms.

Referring to Figure 1, the girders 10, 10 support and have framed thereinto the steel beams 11, 11 which are riveted thereto.

The procedure in the method of construction consists first in the erection of the structural steel frame, Figures 1 and 2. From the steel beams 11 are suspended wood stringers 12, 12 by hangers 13, 13. These stringers 12 are suspended a distance below the bottom flange of the steel beams 11 to allow the placing of the sotfit boards 14, 14 in spaced relation with respect to the bottom flanges of the steel beams.

Arranged along both sides of each of the steel beams 11 are the steel beam forms 15, 15. These steel beam forms 15 are manufactured in channel shape, and bent from steel sheets, including a top 16, and downwardly extending sides 17 and 19 of the same depth. The side 17 is provided with an outwardly turned flange 18' at its base, which projects beneath the soffit board 14 and rests on the stringers 12, affording a support for the soifit board. The opposite side 19 of each form is provided with a shoulder or seat 20 formed intermediate of its depth. In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, one side 19 of the metal beam form extends downwardly from the top or upper portion 16, and is then bent outwardly a short distance to form the seat 20 and then downwardly and outwardly to produce a flange 21 which rests on the string ers 12.

These beam forms have sides of equal depth constituting legs, and when placed in position along side of the steel beams 11, the legs or sides bear on the stringers 12 in a vertical position and are self-supporting. These beam forms take the place of lumber or beam sides made of wood used in concrete construc tion. The longitudinal seat 20 on the inside face of the steel beam form supports the joists 22 which in wood form construction is provided for by an additional longitudinal wood member nailed to the inside face of the wood beam form. The steel beam forms when placed in position remain upright requiring only a small amount of time to erect in position as compared with the labor required to hold and nail wood beam sides. There is no additional labor or material required to secure the support for the joists 22.

Interposed between the metal beam forms 15, and arranged in spaced relation are a lurality of wooden joists 22 which are sup ported at the ends on the shoulders or seats 20 of the sides 19. The wood joists 22 are of a size suitable for supporting thereon a platform consisting of wood sheathing 23, or flat steel forms 24; to fill the space intervening between the adjacent beam forms 15 and to lie with their upper surfaces substantially flush with the tops 16 of the forms 15.

In Figure 3 the steel forms are shown in the samespaced relation as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, with respect to the beams 11; except in this arrangement the beam forms 15 and formwork are arranged for pouring reinforced concrete beams and floor slabs. The steel forms 15 are supported by T-heads 25, on the shores 26 instead of the stringers 12. Blocks 27 are attached to the T-heads for purposes of securing the beam forms in position. As illustrated, the distance between the beams may be greater than that disclosed in the other figures, and when this distance is of any great span additional supports 28 are used to afford the necessary rigidity to the joists 22.

The beam forms 15 are fabricated of thin gauge'steel sheets making them easy to handle and durable. As indicated in Figure 1,

these beam form units can overlap at one end and are therefore adjustable in length. One end of each form is made slightly smaller in width than the opposite end, whereby a series may be arranged with respect to each other to extend the full length of the beams, and fit exactly the distance between the sides of the supporting girders.

In the modifications disclosed'in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 the steel forms 15 differ from the disclosure of the other figures in the formation of the shoulder or seat 20. In Figure 5, an angle iron strip is attached to a channel shaped form 15, by welding, rivets or other means for forming the shoulder or seat 20 upon which thej oists 22 may be supported.

Figure 6, shows angle iron clips attached by welding, rivets or bolts to the side 19 of the form 15, in spaced apart relation; while Figure 7 illustrates another method by striking the flanges from the side 19 and bending them outwardly to'support the joists. In these two latter forms longitudinal members could be supported lengthwise of the form a .top and sides,

produce a top and sides,

forms 15 on the flanges 20, and the joists mounted on the longitudinal members.

Figure 8 discloses a wooden strip fastened or bolted to the side 19 of the form 15 for forming the seat 20. In these forms the scat 20 is of less length than the beam forms 15, to permit the beam forms to have the necessary overlap and adjustment in length.

After the concrete has set a sufficient length of time, the forms are removed for reuse by cutting the wire hangers, or the T-heads taken from under the concrete beams which releases the balance of the formwork. The steel beam forms being arranged in overlapped sections, the units are separated and stripped easily and do not bind between the girder forms. In the removal of these steel form units and supporting falsework from the formed concrete construction there is little damage or loss of material such as in. wood form construction.

It has been demonstrated from actual use that this system when applied to structural steel frame buildings or to reinforced concrete construction, the formwork can beerected and removedmore readily, with less waste and less material than under the present methods 1n general use, and with a great savlng in time and labor.

Having described my invention what I i 5 claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet metal form for concrete construction, comprising a metal plate bent to the sides extendingdownwardly from the top and being of like depth to produce aself supporting unit, one of the sides forming the wall of a mold, and the other side bent outwardly to form a seat forsupporting a system of slab formwork.

2. Means for forming a concrete floor, consisting of a plurality of inverted channel shaped metalbeam forms,each beam form be ing constructed by bending a metal plate to downwardly and being of like depth constituting legs for supporting the unit, said forms being arranged in pairs and in spaced relation so that a side of each pair of forms produces a wall of sides of each form being bent outwardly to produce ashoulderor seat thereon, and formwork supportedon said shoulders onto which formwork and beam forms concrete may be poured for forming a concrete slab.

3. A form for concrete construction, comprising a plurality of metal beam forms, each for-m constructed from a metal plate by bending to form a top and down-turned sides of the sides extending 1:

the mold, and the other 1" like depth to produce a self supporting unit, Ililsaid forms being arranged on opposite sides of spaced apart steel beams for forming a mold about the beams, a side of each beam form being bent outwardly to provide a seat on which a system of formwork interposed between the beam forms is supported so that the upper surface of the formwork will be approximately flush with top of said beam forms.

4. A form for concrete construction, consisting of a series of metal beam forms, each of said forms constructed from a metal plate by bending the plate to produce a top and sides, the sides extending downwardly from the top and being of like depth to produce aself-supporting unit, one of the sides of each beam form forming the Wall of a mold, and the other side bent outwardly to form a seat for supporting a system of slab form- Work, each beam form being of less width at one end than at the other to permit of adjustability in length of the beam forms when assembled.

HEWITT L. WELLS. 

